Ralph S. Passman

Ralph S. Passman, 82, a personality extraordinaire, died peacefully in his sleep Sunday night, May 27, 2007 surrounded by his loving family. The celebration of his outstanding life will take place Tuesday, May 29, 3:00 P.M. at The Louis Memorial Chapel Memorial Chapel, 6830 Troost Avenue. Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery. The family suggests no flowers, but rather contributions to an organization that filled Ralph’s life with joy: The Boy Scouts of America, 10210 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131, or a charity of your choice.Ralph, born December 6, 1924 in Cleveland, OH, moved to Kansas City in 1929 where he attended Linwood Elementary and Central High School.On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. The next day Ralph joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He was deployed to the Pacific Theatre. He saw action during the first and second American offensive battles of World War II agaainst the Japanese on Guadalcanal and Tarawa.From the Second Marine Division, Ralph was one of ten soldiers selected out of a battalion of one thousand soldiers to return to the United States to attend Officers Candidate Training School at the University of Washington and the University of California at Berkeley, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity.The most momentous day of Ralph’s life occurred on March 1, 1947 when he met a girl named Shirley Carr. Seven weeks later on April 20, 1947, Ralph and Shirley exchanged marriage vows of fidelity. Their intense love, loyalty and spontaneous overflow of feelings of respect for each other lasted 60 years.In August 1947 Ralph saw the insurance industry as a way of serving others. First employed by Strauss, Fuchs, Oppenheimer, Ralph then formed his own firm with a partner, Clarence Soblin.In 1970, Ralph S. Passman and Associates was born. Soon Ralph’s knowledge of insurance, his magnificent warmth of personality, and his always caring attitude toward clients attracted insurance companies and insurance agents throughout the country. This gave birth to public speaking tours for Ralph in cities across the nation. He trained insurance executives and agents, all of which led to so many awards for him that his family and friends called the walls in his home the “Walls of Fame.”Ralph founded Horizon Underwriters, Acorn Underwriters and other subsidiaries. Ralph’s belief that the selling of insurance was a “calling” and not a business permeated his entire professional life. Ralph was president of Kansas City Accident and Health Underwriters.At 12 Ralph joined the Boy Scouts of America and Troop 61. Thereafter Ralph’s devotion to scouting penetrated every aspect of his life. During his summers at the H. Roe Bartle Scout Reservation at Osceola, Missouri Ralph’s dedication to scouting was recognized. He achieved the rank of Sachem in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. He received scouting’s highest award for a volunteer, the Silver Beaver.Ralph’s leadership skills led him to the presidency of Kansas City B’nai B’rith Chapter #184 and the Men’s Club at Congregation Ohev Sholom.Ralph was a member of Beth Shalom Synagogue and Meadowbrook Country Club. He was an avid golfer and bowler with a real love for sports and traveling. He was a member of the Ararat Shrine Temple.Ralph was preceded in death by his father and mother, Louis and Anna Passman and his brother Herb. Ralph is survived by his wife of 60 years, Shirley; his daughter, Suzanne, his son, Paul and his wife Beth, and grandson Alan.